Toronto 
Photo Credit: Still The Oldie Flickr
Here is the “to do” list of activities in Toronto and GTA this winter including winter activities, festivals, exhibitions, sports and related activities, concerts and live theatre.
I. Outdoor Winter Activities
- Lace up and hit an outdoor ice rink: Toronto and GTA has some great skating trails. Can you brave the polar bear skate at the Bentway?
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Credit: Ontario Place
- Ontario Place offers something for everyone, from a Winter Light Exhibition, to skating, to taking in the beauty of Ontario Place illuminated by fairy lights or a stroll on the newly opened Trillium Park and William G. Davis Trail! Come down to enjoy the magic and fun of winter by the lake all season long.
- Discover Toronto’s National Park this winter. Join in on a guided walk to discover nature and winter wildlife with Parks Canada.
- Visit Tommy Thompson Park to learn about what Toronto’s urban wildlife is up to this time of year during Family Nature Walk. Visit your nearest conservation area for a walk in the woods or to spot winter wildlife.
- When there is snow on the ground, dig out your magic carpet, flying saucer or the old-school wooden toboggan and hit the tobogganing hill near by and enjoy a ride down.
- Want a bit more excitement? Go snow tubing!
- If skiing and snowboarding is your thing, there are eleven ski areas in GTA and two within Toronto city limits.
- Explore the winter landscape of neighbouring Parks and Conservation Areas through snow shoeing. Halton Hills Conservation has guided snowshoe hikes for family and moonlight snowshoe events.
- Hit the trails for cross-country skiing — a great way to stay active this winter while enjoying the outdoors. Albion Hills Conservation Area of Caledon provides 26 kilometres of groomed and track-set trails suited to beginner, intermediate and expert level skiers. Halton Conservation areas of Crawford Lake (Milton), Hilton Falls, Mountsberg offers cross-country ski trails through woods and fields.
- If you want to burn all that fat accumulated during the holidays, try Fat biking! Get out for a guided ride every Sunday with the experts at Evergreen Brick Works and explore Don Valley trails. Fat Biking is also allowed at Black Trail at Albion Hills Conservation Area. Rentals are available at both places.
- Go on a day trip to see frozen waterfalls near Toronto.
Runs & Walks
- Resolution Run® and Walk: Start the New Year off on the right foot by establishing or maintaining an active lifestyle: December 30, 31 2018 & January 1, 2019 @ Various locations
- MEC Toronto Race ONE: 5/10K The Winter Run 2018 : Sunday, January 20, 2019 | 08:00 am to 12:00 pm @ Martin Goodman Trail at Royal Canadian Legion Branch #344, Toronto
- Chilly Half Marathon & CIBC Wood Gundy Frosty 5K: Sunday, March 3, 2019 | 10:05 AM @ Burlington
II. Festivals During Winter 2018-19
There’s so much going on in Toronto every weekend and winter season is no exception!
Artists and Artisans Development and Network (AADN) in collaboration with community organizations will host two days festival on theme of inclusion and empowerment for immigrants, newcomers, individuals with disabilities and ... Read More
A showcase of the best of EUROPEAN Short Films from around the world today. Carlton Cinemas in downtown Toronto. An event for everyone! This is a lineup of the best ... Read More
Join us for the Annual TORONTO TANGO MARATHON on the second weekend in January for an amazing weekend of Argentine Tango in Toronto, with beautiful music, great venue, lots of ... Read More
2019 Albion Hills Fat Bike festival promises even more excitement, with loads of dealer demos, bonfires, a fast 20km race and fun 10km poker run. Substance Projects is excited to ... Read More
A showcase of the best of FEMALE Directed Short Films from around the world today. Thursday January 17th. 7pm. Carlton Cinemas in downtown Toronto. An event for everyone! Who is ... Read More
DesignTO, formerly the Toronto Design Offsite Festival, brings you 10 days filled with immersive installations, fantastic exhibitions, engaging talks, and more design and art than ever before. With this much ... Read More
The Toronto Light Festival, the City’s first-ever light art festival, is returning for the another year to the Distillery Historic District! Visitors will be taken on a new visual journey ... Read More
This year's Winter Fest will feature even more excitement for fans of all ages, with select player, prospect, and alumni appearances, Sportsnet personalities, Jr. Jays activations, live entertainment, historic memorabilia, ... Read More
Rediscover the joys of the winter season and great Canadian outdoors with friends and family at the historic Alton Mill Arts Centre in rural Caledon. Highlights of the festival include ... Read More
The Annual Burlington Winter Beer Festival is the culmination of the Festival of Beer, an exciting celebration of beer and beer food pairing in partnership with local restaurants and progressive ... Read More
Toronto's winter culinary celebration offers the perfect opportunity to discover delicious cuisine at more than 220 restaurants and experience unique culinary events. Produced by the City of Toronto. The Licious ... Read More
Craft Beer, Food Trucks and Campfires. Don your stompin' boots, pull on a toque and wear your puffiest parka because it's time to hoist a pint or two with the ... Read More
Totally unique and completely captivating, DanceWeekend is a veritable feast of globally inspired dance from 25 professional companies presenting in Toronto throughout the year. A platform for over 350 dancers and ... Read More
The first annual Sketch to the Death! sketch comedy tournament will take place Sunday, Sunday, Sundays in January at The Social Capital Theatre. Sketch to the Death! will feature a ... Read More
Progress is an international festival of performance and ideas presented in partnership by SummerWorks Performance Festival and The Theatre Centre. The Festival is collectively curated and produced by a series ... Read More
Pendance is an independent film festival supported by a bevy of great sponsors and key artists in the Canadian film community. Among 41 short films selected for premieres, 31 are ... Read More
Join us for the 2019 Hamilton Winterfest and explore your city from February 1 to 18 with more than 100 events. Skate at the waterfront and local arenas, enjoy concerts, ... Read More
The 15th annual Feb Fest will take over downtown Kingston for the entire month of February stocked full of winter fun for the entire family. FebFest kicks off on Friday ... Read More
Join us in February as we host Toronto's longest-running Black History Month celebration. From exhibitions, films, comedy, panel discussions and a spectacular vogue ball, we cover a plethora of events ... Read More
The Toronto Tea Festival has gathered world-renowned tea sommeliers, published authors, historical fashion experts, musicians and vendors who are keen to steep the enquiring, novice and aficionado in tea lore ... Read More
WNED-TV presents our first-ever Kid Fest in Canada! Children and parents can enjoy a fun-filled family day filled with meet-and-greets with beloved PBS KIDS characters, as well as an assortment ... Read More
51st Richmond Hill Winter Carnival - The Richmond Hill Winter Carnival is a weekend of affordable fun and entertainment organized by volunteers to celebrate the community of Richmond Hill in ... Read More
Over the course of 24 hours, 5 brand new pieces of theatre will be written, cast, rehearsed and then performed publicly for your enjoyment! Can it be done? ... Read More
The Total Mom Show will feature a myriad of immersive activities, experts and services relating to health and well-being, mom lifestyle, productivity and empowerment. The Mindful Stage will showcase high ... Read More
Celebrate winter with the Annual Bloor-Yorkville Icefest, a free public event taking place throughout the Village of Yorkville Park and surrounding area. The Village of Yorkville Park and Cumberland Street ... Read More
This free, fun-filled, winter carnival offers first-class entertainment, indoor & outdoor activities, meet & greets, a free pancake breakfast, outdoor firepits, arts & crafts, a photo booth, face painting, horse-drawn ... Read More
FESTIVAL DIRECTOR MEL HAGUE Canada’s longest-running new works festival returns for a 40th year. Rhubarb transforms Buddies into a hotbed of experimentation, with artists exploring new possibilities in theatre, dance, ... Read More
Founded by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, Toronto Black Film Festival is dedicated to celebrating the very best in cinematic work dealing with the varied experiences of black people from diverse ... Read More
Join us for the 4th Annual GeekFest Toronto - A 1-day Marathon of Films, Docs and Talks on things Geeks Love. And, maybe, just maybe, a chance to meet (and ... Read More
A special evening of best ROMANTIC short films from around the world today. On Valentine's day we are introducing the best short films from around the world - guaranteed! Bring ... Read More
Get in from the cold and toast your body and mind to the warm glow of animated stories. Everything is possible with animation! Toronto Animation Arts Festival International, or TAAFI, ... Read More
Revel in the complexity of youth on screen and banish the old world of cookie-cutter portrayals to cinema’s past, as TIFF helps herald in a new era of storytelling for ... Read More
Wavelength warms up winter with the 19th annual Wavelength Winter Festival! #WL19 is a three-night live curated mixtape of the best NEW independent music from the North American underground. Adventurous ... Read More
Butter Tarts and More Butter Tarts...Come and pick your favourite. Some of the best Butter Tart Bakers from around Ontario plus other Bakery items and of course a diverse Marketplace ... Read More
Piggy Banks for the Life Moments Help Unionville celebrate the Year of the Pig and kick off your family-day long weekend at the Varley Art Gallery. In partnership with the ... Read More
A Vegan Feast of Delicious African and Caribbean Foods. The food ranges from vegan versions of traditional African/Caribbean ethnic foods to new creations that give North American fruits and vegetables ... Read More
The 7th Toronto-Qinhuai Lantern Festival, organized by Ontario-Jiangsu Friendship Association will be held on Family Day. Celebrate Family Day & the Lunar New Year of the Pig! The Festival will ... Read More
The 7th annual Toronto Black Film Festival (TBFF) is thrilled to be back with the 2nd edition of the TBFF Kids Film Festival - presented by TD! MISSION - EMPOWERING ... Read More
Winterfolk is an all-ages, mid-winter, weatherproof event, where you’ll find the best of urban, blues, rock, jazz, country, folk and roots music, emulating a multi-stage rural summer festival. More than ... Read More
22 Films. One Weekend. All Ireland. Now in it’s 9th year, the Toronto Irish Film Festival celebrates the very best of Irish cinema and promotes the work of Irish filmmakers ... Read More
Toronto’s biggest indoor beer festival Toronto Winter Brewfest returns this March for another year of brews and bites! With double the number of independent brewery booths in twice as much ... Read More
Storytelling Toronto presents the 40th annual Toronto Storytelling Festival! This is one of the world’s largest and oldest urban storytelling celebrations, and has been a major force in the international ... Read More
Flakey Crust, Gooey inside, some a little sweet, some a little nutty and some with crazy flavor Explosions…Mmmmm Butter Tarts – the mini pie you can eat without the guilt! ... Read More
New Ideas Festival is an annual three-week juried festival of new writing, works-in-progress and experimental theatre, with a different program of plays each week and staged readings on Saturdays at ... Read More
TOsketchfest will welcome over 80 sketch comedy acts from cities across North America and beyond March 7-17, 2019. The Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival is Canada's premier festival celebrating scripted, ensemble ... Read More
Trigan Nowruz Festival Proudly presents a selection of the best in show from the Persian arts and culture scene on March 8-10, 2019 in Toronto. Join us in celebrating Nowruz, ... Read More
Celebrate Toronto, the 2-day festival honouring Toronto's 185th Anniversary, will be held at Nathan Phillips Square. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ [The Festival] Come by our market, shop from local vendors, feast upon the ... Read More
Toronto’s very own cabane à sucre is returning to downtown Toronto Waterfront with one epic weekend fuelled by maple syrup! Warm up with a glass of hot mulled cider, enjoy ... Read More
Join us for for the biggest St Patricks day parade to hit the streets of Toronto. A community event in its 32nd consecutive year celebrating Irish culture history and heritage ... Read More
A showcase of the best of Short Films from around the world today: Thursday March 14th. 7pm. Carlton Cinemas in downtown Toronto. Best of Experimental, Dance, & Music Short Films ... Read More
III. Indoor Activities
Are you the one that countdowns to summer every time the first sign of winter hits Toronto? Then, here is a list of indoor attractions and indoor amusement parks in Toronto to keep those winter blues away till the barbecue season is back!
IV. Art/Science Exhibitions & Expos
Credit: Winter Stations Inc
- Winter Stations: Enjoy temporary public art installations to The Beaches, exhibited to celebrate Toronto’s winter waterfront landscape.
- Discover, explore and engage with five interactive public art installations on Queens Quay West. Ice Breakers is also a testament to the power of design, bringing strangers together and sparking a fresh dialogue about Toronto’s urban Waterfront.
- Inspired by the powerful representations of Black women in the recently opened exhibition Mickalene Thomas: Femme Noires, the AGO has an engaging winter season of public programming, including talks, screenings, performances, readings and more.
- Impressionism in the Age of Industry: Monet, Pissarro and more brings masterpieces from around the world to the AGO, including over 100 great paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs and films from the period.
- Zuul: Life of an Armoured Dinosaur: Come face to face with Zuul, the gnarly-faced, horned armoured dinosaur with a sledgehammer-like tail in this ROM original exhibition. This remarkably well-preserved ankylosaur was recently identified by ROM paleontologists as a new species, and now they can’t help but wonder: what was life like for Zuul?
- Dream Machines: The Magical Machines of Rowland Emett: Enter a world of engineered fantasies from the mind of a cartoonist who decided to bring his imagined world to life. Marvel at the spinning, blinking and tinkling unlikely creations like the hot-air rocking chair, lullaby machine, and humbug major sweet machine (made famous in the classic movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang).
The Petersen’s L.A. Car Culture Exhibit at 2019 AutoShow
- Explore the compelling concepts, innovative products, upcoming talent and key experts at the Interior Design Show Toronto. January 17 to 20, 2019
- See the latest in Boats at Toronto International Boat Show from January 18 – 29, 2019 @ Enercare Centre.
- Planning a summer wedding? There are three wedding shows you can check out! Modern Bride Wedding Show from January 19 to 20, National Bridal Show from February 1 to 3, and Suhag Show on February 10.
- Plan you golfing trip at Toronto Golf & Travel Show from February 8 to 10, 2019 at The International Centre, Mississauga.
- From the open road, to the track and to the trail, see the newest models from the big names, plus the latest in apparel, accessories and touring destinations – all under one roof at The Motorcycle Show on February 15-17th, 2019 @ Enercare Centre
- Find out the secrets and tips on how to have a successful summer on the water at The Spring Fishing & Boat Show from February 15 to 17 at The International Centre, Mississauga.
- Explore all things automotive boasting more than 1,000 cars, trucks, SUVs, concept cars, exotics, classics, muscle cars, fully electric and autonomous vehicles at the Canadian International AutoShow from February 15 to 24 at the MTCC.
- See the original works from over 250 carefully juried, independent contemporary artists at The Artist Project at Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place, Toronto from from February 21 to 24, 2019.
- Plan your next adventure travel and see over 300 exhibitors offering the latest camping gear, paddle sports, outdoor clothing, scuba diving at the Outdoor Adventure Show from February 22 – 24, 2019at The International Centre, Mississauga.
- Learn about the RV & Camping Lifestyle at Toronto Spring Camping & RV Show from February 28 to March 3, 2019 at The International Centre, Mississauga.
- Check out the latest in interior design, architecture and gardening at the National Home Show & Canada Blooms March 8 – 17, 2019 @ Enercare Centre
- Meet your favourite superhero at Toronto ComicCon from March 15 to 17, 2019 at Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
- Discover what the Canadian wilderness has to offer through 350 exhibits showcasing the best of fishing, hunting, boating, and so much more during the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show.
IV. Live Concerts During Winter
Attend Star Wars: A New Hope – In Concert, presented by Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Arkells’ Rally Cry Tour or Double Down Tour by Eric Church at Scotiabank Arena.
10 Upcoming Concerts
Upcoming concert Tours in Toronto
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V. Performing Arts & Theatre During Winter
Eve of St. George
Follow Elektra as she feeds her thirst for revenge with primal single-mindedness in the groundbreaking work of musical modernism by Canadian Opera Company, get immersed in Transcendance Project’s EVE OF ST. GEORGE, a voyeuristic and immersive recreation of Bram Stoker’s chilling tale of Dracula, get tickets for Ravi Jain’s remixed, reimagined, and bilingual Prince Hamlet or stomp along with “The Last Ship“, a heartfelt and empowering new musical by multiple Grammy Award® winner Sting.
10 Upcoming Live Theatre Shows
Performing Arts in Toronto & GTA
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VI. Spectator Sports
Cheer Toronto’s sports teams.
Ice Hockey: Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Marlies, Mississauga Steelheads
Lacrosse: Toronto Rock
10 Upcoming Games
Toronto Marlies vs. Belleville Senators
Saturday, December 14, 2019 @ 04:00 PM
Coca-Cola Coliseum, Toronto
$15 - $68
Toronto Raptors vs. Brooklyn Nets
Saturday, December 14, 2019 @ 07:30 PM
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
$40 - $4166
Toronto Marlies vs. Rockford IceHogs
Sunday, December 15, 2019 @ 04:00 PM
Coca-Cola Coliseum, Toronto
$15 - $62
Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Monday, December 16, 2019 @ 07:30 PM
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
$23 - $2608
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Buffalo Sabres
Tuesday, December 17, 2019 @ 07:00 PM
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
$88 - $649
Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards
Friday, December 20, 2019 @ 07:30 PM
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
$27 - $3117
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Detroit Red Wings
Saturday, December 21, 2019 @ 07:00 PM
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
$106 - $846
Toronto Raptors vs. Dallas Mavericks
Sunday, December 22, 2019 @ 03:30 PM
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
$27 - $3117
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Monday, December 23, 2019 @ 02:00 PM
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
$83 - $588
Toronto Raptors vs. Boston Celtics
Wednesday, December 25, 2019 @ 12:00 PM
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
$67 - $4835
For your first 2 links under ‘Outdoor Winter Activities’ – these do not currently work. Thanks!
Thank you! Corrected!